Projectile fuse.



' bodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a partial WILLIAM DALTON, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK.

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Aplication led J' uly 18, 1916. Serial No. 109,886.

To all whom t may 'concern Be it known that I, VILLIAMl DAL'roN, of

Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady andState of New York', have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Projectile-F uses, of which improvement the foly lowing is a specification.

My invention more particularly relates to explosive projectile fuses, in the operation of which a percussion element is caused to lire an explosive charge when the velocity of the projectile, while in flight, is retarded by any obstacle.

The objectsof my invention are to provide a fiash port in a percussion element, in order to avoid the cost of drilling a long port in the fuse body; to provide a simpler and more effective safety percussion element, which will guard against the accidental firing of the explosive charge, during the loading and transportation of the projectile; to provide a simpler form of fuse body, by eliminating a long tortuous port, in order to avoid losses from imperfect workmanship and porosity of the material; and to provide means for arming, and automatically disarming, the percussion element when the projectile rotates at a predetermined speed.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is an axial section through a well known type of projectile fuse, illustrating an emsection, on a reduced Scale, illustrating the firing position of my improved percussion element; and, Fig. 3, a detailed bottom view of the percussion element.

In the practice of my invention, referring descriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, the body, 1, of the fuse, carries the powder timing train rings, 2 and 3, which are fastened to the body by a closing cap, 4, in the usual manner. 'A concussion element, 5, which is inclosed' by the cap, is adapted to firev the powder trains, 2 and 3, at the instant the projectile starts from a gun. powder charge in the chamber, 6, is fired by the timing powder train, as usual, at the instant corresponding to the adjusted setting of the timing train ring, 3, if it has not been previously fired by the action ofmy improved percussion element to be hereinafter described.' A closing screw, 8, provided with wrenchsockets, 8, is screwed The base against a seat, 1b, on lthe body, to tightly close a centrally disposed percussion chamber l, and the annular base charge powder chamber, 6, in theusual manner. A percussion spool, 7 the bore of which is adapted to contain a powder core, 7e, is centrally dis-- posed within the chamber, 1, and is supported and guided vby a slotted,l cup, 9, so as to permit 1t to slide toward and from a firing pin, 14, which projects inwardly from' the frontend of the chamber.

The annular seat, 8b, against which the spool, 7, abuts, is of ample size to'resist crushing when suddenly accelerating and impelling the spool, at the instant the fuse is fired from a gun. A washer, 8, and a fiber l specification of Letters Patent. Patented De@ 12, 1916,

disk, 8e, form a partition between the charge of powder, 8f, in the closing screw, and the spool, 7, a small intervening space being interposed, as illustrated. A'disk, 8?, closes the outer or back side of the screw, in the usual manner. vThe ports 8h, are of the usual form, and establish communication between the powder in the closing screw and the annular chamber, 6. .The slotted cup, 9, which abuts against an annular seat, 1S, formed on the front side of the chamber, 1, positions a plurality of centrifugal safety locking triggers, 10, which are loosely embraced by lateral slots, 9b, formed in the cup.

on the front extremity of each of the ytriggers, the ends of said arms bearing on a spring washer, y11. A helical spring, 12', abuts against the washer, 11, and against a flange, 7a, formed on the back endof the percussion spool, 7. The flange, 7, also propin, 14, when the percussion spool', 7 moves forward to its firing position shown in Fig. 2. The cap fires the powder core, 7e, and thereby ruptures the fiber disk, 7f, which closes the back end of the spool. The fireflash continues rearward, ruptures the disk, 8", and fires the base charge, 8f, and the charge1 contained in the chamber, f' 6, and,

with this added force, fires an explosive charge in the projectile, Whlch 1s not shown,

:'An inwardly projecting arm, 10a, is formed Ymined centripetal force. permits an outwardv unlocking movement of as it may be of any of the knownconstructions.

The compressive force of the spring, 12, is soproportioned and transmitted to the triggers, 10, by the washer, 11, and the projecting arms, 10a, as to provide a predeter- This force only the percussion spool, v7, with the detonator l cap, 13, fastened thereto by the cup nut,` 13, and the triggers, 10, which are embraced by the slotted cup, 9, and are held in their inner positions by the'washer, 11, which opposes the spring, 12. This spring also'normally positions the spool, with its attachedparts, againstthe closing screw, 8, at a safe distance .from the firing pin, 14, so as to permit vthe back ends of the triggers to abut4 against the flange, 7 a, of the spool, and thereby lock it in thek normal disarmed position shown. 'Y

The mass and form of the triggers are so proportioned, relatively to the centripetal force due to the compressive resilience of the spring, as to require, during the flight of a projectile, a fuse arming rotative speed of approximately two thousand'revolutions per minute, to arm the-element by the centrifugal force developed thereby in the triggeis. clear of the flange and into the armed position of the element. This position is normally occupied during iiglit, up to the in"- stant, the projectile meets a retarding obstruction. Tlie instant it is retarded, the spooland its attached parts instantly fly to the firing position shown in Fig. 2; strike the pin, 14, and fire the explosive charge, as already described.

If, by accident, during transportation or otherwise, the fuse is rotated at a suliiciei'itly high speed to arm the percussion element,

the compressive force ofthe spring will automatically return the several parts forming the element, into their locked and disarmed position immediately after the rotation falls below a predetermined arming speed. This is an important and valuable feature which avoids the great danger from-handling an armed fuse or explosive projectile after it has accidentally been rolled down an incline or otherwise rotated above the arming speed.

I claim,.as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. The combination, in an explosive pro- This force throws them outward,

jectile fuse, of'a percussion chamber; a firing pin and a detonator cap oppositely dis posed therein; a reciprocating member adapted to explode lthe cap against the fir' ing pin and having -a spring seat formed thereon; means for transmitting a fire flash' to a powder charge; centrifugal triggers engaging and locking the reciprocating member lin disarmed position; a laterally opro-A jecting arm formed on-eacli trigger; means for pivotally supporting and guiding the triggers; a movable spring seat bearing against said arms; and a spring interposed between the seats and exerting centripetal' force upon-the triggers for holding the reciprocating member in locked and disarmed position until the fuse isg rotated, while in flight, above a predetermined arming speed for the 'purpose of firing 'an explosive charge. Y

2. The combination, in-an explosive projectile fuse, of a percussion chamber; a firing pin and a detonator cap oppositely disposedA therein; a reciprocating member adapted to explode the cap against thewfiririg pin; a`

guiding Harige formed on the backl end of the reciprocatingmember; means for' trans-l mitting a'fire flash from lthecap to a pow.-l der charge; centrifugal triggers engagingq the reciprocating member and locking it in disarmed position; means for pivotally supporting and guiding the triggers; 4a spring seated upon the flange; and transmitting means interposed between the spring and triggers for exerting centripetal force upon the triggers, for holding the reciprocating member in locked and disarmed position.

3. The combination, in an explosive projectile fusi-lof a percussion chamber; a liring pin and a detonator cap oppositely di'sposed therein; aV recepirocating member adapted to explode the cap against the firing pin; means for guiding the reciprocating member; means for transmitting a fire flash from the cap to hay powder charge; longitudiicc nally disposedj' centrifugal triggers engaging the rear endA of the reciprocatingmember and locking it in disarmed position; means for pivotally supporting and guiding the triggers; laterally projecting arms formed'on the front ends of the triggers; and a .spring opposing the reciprocating member, and bearing against said arms, for exerting centripetal force upon the triggers for holding the reciprocating member in locked and dise' armed position` 4:. The combination, 1n an explosive prof )ectile fuse, of a percussion chamber; a firing pin fixed in the front end thereof; aper cussion spool 'disposed Within the chamber and adapted to contain, a powder core and to slide toward and from the firing pin; a det-A onator cap carried in the frontend of -the spool, adjacent to the firing pin; a centrifugal locking trigger disposed within th.

chamber, adjacent;- to the spoolymeans for pivotally supporting and guiding the trigger; and a spring interposed between the spool and trigger, and exerting centripetal force on the trigger whereby it will be held in its inner locked and disarmed position until the fuse is rotated, while in flight, above a predetermined arming speed for the purpose of firing an explosive charge.

5; The combination, in an ,explosive projectil'e fuse, of a percussion chamber; a firing pin fixed in Vthe front' end thereof; a percussion spool disposed within th'e chamber and adapted to contain a powder core andto slide toward and from the firing pins; a detonator cap carried in the front end of the spool, adjacent tothe firing pin; a plurality of centrifugal locking triggers disposed within the chamber, adjacent to the spool; means for pivotally supporting a'nd guiding the triggers; and a spring interposed between the spool and triggers, ,and exerting centripetal force on -tlie triggers whereby they will be held in their inner locked and disarmed positions until the fuse is rotated, while in flight,'above a predetei-mined arming speed for the purpose of firing an explosive charge.

6. The combination, in an explosive projectile fuse, of a percussion chamber; a firing pin fixed in the front end thereof; a percussion spool disposed Within the chamber and adapted to contain a powder core andto slide toward and from the firing pin; a powder oore inclosed within and carried by the spool; fire-flash discharge outlets formedl on the spool and chamber; closing -disks for covering said outlets; a detonator cap Carried in the front end of the spool, in communication with the powder core, and adjacent to the firing pin; a centrifugal lockingtrigger disposed within theichamber, adjacent to the spool; means for pivotally supporting and guiding the trigger; and a spring interposed between the spool and trigger, and exerting centripetal force on the trigger, whereby it will be held in its inner locked and disarmed position until the fuse is rotated, while in flight, above a predetermined a'rming speed for the purpose of firing an explosive charge.

7. The combination, in an explosive projectile fuse,o.f a percussion chamber; a fire flash outlet formed thereon; a firing pin fixed in the front end thereof; a laterally slot-ted cup inclosed therein; an opening formed centrally in the front end of said cup; a centrally disposed percussion spool,-

which is guided at its front end by said opening and adapted to` slide toward and from the firing pin; a detonator cap carried in the front end of the spool; centrifugal locking triggers disposed in the slots of the cup, eachr having an arm extending inwardly and radially, relatively to the chamber and I spool; and a. spring encircling the spool and adapted to bear on the arms, said spring eX- erting centripetal force on the triggers whereby they will be held `in their inner locked and'disarmed positions'until the fuse is rotated, while in flight, above a predetermined arming speed for the purpose of firing an explosive shell. z

8. The combination, in an explosive projectile fuse, of a percussion chamber; a firing pin fixed in the front end thereof; a percussion spool disposed within the chamber and adapted to contain a powder core and'to slide toward and from the firing pin; a detonator cap'carried -in the front end of the spool, adjacent to the firing pin; an outwardly projecting flange formed on the rear end ofthe spool; centrifugal locking trig' gers disposed adjacent to the spool and within thechamber so as to abut against the flange and lock the spool when against the rear end of the chamber; means for pivotally supporting the triggers; and a spring interposed between the spool and triggers and exerting centripetal force on the triggers whereby they' will be held in their inner locked and disarmed position until the fuse is rotated, while in fligl1 t,above a predetermined arming speed for the purpose of firing an explosive charge.

9. The combination, in an explosive projectile fuse, of a percussion chamber; a ring pin fixed in the front endthereof; a percussion spool disposed within. the chamber and adapted to contain a powder core and to slide toward arid from the firing pin;

trifugal locking triggers disposed within the y chamber adjacent to the spool; means for pivotally supporting and guiding the triggers; and automatic means, interposed between the spool and triggers, and exerting centripetal force, whereby they will be held in their inner locked and disarmed position until the fuse is rotated, While in Hight, above apredetermined arming speed for the purpose of firing an explosive charge, and also to automatically return, and lock, the percussion spool in its disarmed position when the rotative speed becomes less than said arming speed.

10. The combination, in an explosive projectile fuse, of a percussion chamber; a firing pin fixed in the front end thereof; apercussion spool disposed within the chamber and adapted to slide toward and` fronrthe firing pin; a detonator cap carried in the front end of the spool, adjacent to the firing pin; centrifugal locking triggers having inwardly projecting arms formed thereon, `and' triggers; a springvinterposed between the trigger arms land the spool; anda-n inter;

.posed Washer adapted to bear on the armsA `for the purpose of transmitting thereto pressurefrom the spring.

1l. The combination, in'anv explosive projectile fuse, of a percussion chamber; a firing pin fixed in the front end thereof; a percussion spool disposed Withinthe chamber and adapted to contain a powder charge and to slide'toward and from the -ring pin; a detonator cap carried inthe front end of the spool, adjacent to the firing pin; centrifugal locking triggers having inwardly projecting arms formed thereon, and disposed Within' the chamber adjacent to the spool; means for pivotally supporting the triggers; a spring seat formed on the spool; and a springfencireling the-spool, one end thereof abutting against the seat and hold-l ing the vspool in its normally lockedposition, and the other end thereof exerting centripetal torce on the trigger arms, whereby the liggers will be held in their linner locked and disarmed position until the fuse is rotated, While in flight, above a predetermined arming speed for the purpose of firing an lexplosive charge.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for Vof holding the spool and '12. The combination, in an explosive projectlle fuse, ofa percussion chamber; a firing pin fixed in the front end thereof; a percussion spool having a iange formed thereon and d isposed centrally Within the chamber, and adapted to slide towardand from the firing pin; a detonator cap carried in the lfront end of the spool, adjacent to the firing pin; a laterally slotted cup disposed Within the chamber and encircling the spool; an annular space being disposed between the spool and cup; pivoted centrifugal locking triggers disposed in the slots land having arms protruding from the-slots inward into the vannular chamber; and a `spring disposed the annular space of the chamber,l Vand 'interposed between the flangeof the spool and the trigger arms, for the purpose their normally disarmed and locked position.' l

WILLIAM DALTON. Witnesses: l

E. J. Apps, F. T. MARKS.A

ve centi each, by addressing'the- Commissioner f Patents, Washington, D. (2.

the triggers in s 

